Motion retarding device



E. o. THOMPSON 24,115,656

MOTION R'ETARDING DEVICE- Ffiled June 1'7, 1936 Patented Apr. 26,1938 i 2,115,656

UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE MoTIoN RETARDING DEVICE4 4 Elmer Thompson, Beverly, Nl J.,"assignor` to. Philco `Radio and Television Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware `Application Jime `17, 1936,V SerialNo.` 85,772

` f imams. (ci. zii-.soi

"This invention relates to frictional lidr `suprests upon the upper edge 6 of the body I of the porting vand closing devices and the one forming cabinet. Normally the upper edge 6 of the body the subject matter of the present. invention is orthe marginal; area of the under side of the adapted particularly for controlling the closing lid 2 is lined with a strip of felt or otherwise pad- 5 of the lids or tops of chests. cabinets, etc.` Speded `or equipped, as indicated at 1. to ,deaden noise 5 cilcally, the device of the present 4invention is occurring asa result of the operation of the phodesignedfor` controllingthe closing of the lid of nograph mechanism within the cabinet. While a phonograph or similar cabinet, wherein such not essential `to the invention, theuseofthis `pad lid, in closing,` is arranged to swingr about a. horiwill assist in effecting noiseless closing of` the lid zontal pivot, by gravityysolely under its own in accordance with the invention. `10 weight. 1 i ,I I The upper portion of the body I of the cabinet.

:One object of the present invention' is to proin the present'instance a phonograph cabinet, is vide` a control device for cabinet lids which will open over the greater `.portion of the area ofthe function as a safety support `for thelid, .to main cabinet top, as indicated at l0 to permit access u l5 tain the lid in a full open position for as long a to the phonograph mechanism, i. e. turntable 15 time asA may be desired; andv which will permit and pick-up, etc.,,which may be `mounted-iwithin' the closing motion to be inaugurated by auslight the cabinet. l i i downward pressure on the lid; and which, from Theretarding device of the present invention the time the closing oi the lid beginsdwilliconincludes a substantially iiat plate, bar, or other trol the motion of the lid in such a manner as to slide element I0 which is secured in a xed poslo permit it to coast noiselessly into its fully closed tion within the open top of the cabinet I, for position. l example as against one of the side walls 8 of the v Another object of the invention `isto provide al cabinet and preferably with the ,outer surface A,Inl control device, which, in addition` toits being of theplate I0 inthe same plane asand `flush eicient and noiseless in operation. may be inexf with the `inner surface 9 of the cabinet wall 8.

pensively manufactured and installed.` and which As shown in Fig. lftheplate I0 is secured to the will require a minimum amount `of attention to wall 8 by screws I2, I2. i maintain in proper working condition. i Under or behind'the plate `Illthe wall 8 is re- The yconstruction and operation of the device cessed, as indicated at I3for purposes which will will be fully disclosed hereinafter, vreference bebedisclosed hereinafter. The recess I3 extends 30 ing had to theaccompanying drawing, of which: substantially parallel to and is disposed between Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of a suiiithe vertical side edges" I4, I4 oi the plate I0.

cient portion of a cabinetand the lid thereof, in kThe plate 1I0 is :slotted longitudinally thereof, open position,` to illustrate the application and between the side `edges I4,` Ill` `and substantially r, functioning ol thc device of the present invention in alignment with theVcen-ter of the underlying as applied thereto; u recess I3 inthe wall 8, as indicated at I5. the Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cabinet 4parts `and upper and lower ends I6 and I1 of theslot :I 5` bemechanism/shown inFig. 1; ing spaced inwardly from the upper andlower Fig. 3 is a side elevation ol the device .showing ends I8 and I9 `respectively of the plate I0. -10 the relation of thc elements thereof whcnth Passing through the `slot I5 in theplate Il! is 40 cabinet lid is in-its fully closediposition; l a tie element which in the `present instance comf Fig. 4 is an edge elevation of the mechanism prises a bolt 20. The bolt 20 has ahead `2(1ct` loshown in Fig. 3; I f ycated in `spaced relation to the inner -face `23 fol Fig. 5 is asectional'plan taken on the line the plate II), within the recess I3; in the cabinet -15 5-5, Fig. 3; and f `f wall B, and a nut 2| which is threadednontothe 45 Eig. VGis a detached perspcctiye view of the cleshank `20h of the bolt beyond and in spaced rements of the device. lation to the outer face II of `the plate I 0. The

As shown inFigs. 1 and 2. the main body porthreaded end of theIbo-lt 20 is transversely slottiorf of the cabinet is shown generally `at -I` and ted as indicated at I2 for purposes tobe described.

5I) the lid` or top of the cabinet is shown at 2. The Surrounding thefabolt ll)` and in contact `with 50 lidf`2 is pvoted tothe body I', as by a hinge 3, the opposite facesll'` and 23 respectively of the theaxis of the pin 4 ofwhichisdisposcd horiplate I0 ls aipairofiriction members in the form zontally. i Y Vof `a pair of `discs 26 and 21. These discs, while When the lid .2 is in its fully closed position. as they may` be `composed of any suitable friction 5.3 shown in Figs. Band 4, theunder side 5 `thereof material are` preferably cut from a `sheet of `(S5 leather and are mounted on the bolt preferably with the rough or flesh side of the leather in contact with the opposite smooth faces of the plate i0. If split leather is used the split should be made in such a manner as to provide a more or less rough plate-contacting surface on the discs 26 and 21.

Surrounding the bolt 20 and disposed against the second side of each of the discs 26 and 21 respectively are backing elements for said friction discs and which preferably take the form of metallic washers 23 and 29.

Between the washer 29 and the head 20a of the bolt 20, and between the washer 28 and the nut 2| on said bolt are resilient elements in the form of springs 3| and 30 respectively and between the` spring 30 and the nut 2| is one end 34 of a link 35.

The end 34 of the link 35 is bored and threaded as indicated at 3l in Fig. 6 for the reception of the threaded end of the bolt 20 and by turning the bolt 20 in one direction the springs 30 and 3| may be'placed under compression between the head 26a of the bolt 20 and the washer 23 in one instance and between the link 35 and the washer 2l in the other instance.

The pressure of the springs 30 and 3| is transmitted through the washers 26 and V23 to the friction discs 26 and 21 respectively to draw the rough sides of the two friction discs into contact with the opposite faces and 23 respectively of the plate I0.

The pressure exerted by the springs 30 and 3| determines the intensity of the frictional contact between the discs 26 and 21 and the plate I0.

The pressure of the springs 30 and 3| may be regulated before or after 'the plate i0 is secured in place in the wall 3 of the cabinet body in the first case by a wrench applied to the head 23a of the bolt 20 and in the second case by a screw driver in the slot 22 in the outer end of the shank of the bolt 20. Therefore, during assembly of the parts prior to installation of the plate I0 in the cabinet the head 20a may be used to obtain a rough or approximate setting of the spring pressure and after installation the slot 22 may be used to obtain the final accurate setting of the spring pressure.

After final setting of the spring pressure the nut 2| is tightened against the link 35 to lock the bolt 20 against relative rotation with respect to the link 35. I.

The springs 30 and 3| should preferably have a concavo-convex star shape, as clearly indicated in Fig. 6. The springs are arranged with the star points 33. 33 in contact with the washers 28 and 23 respectively and with the central portion 36 of one in contact withth inner surface of the nut 2| and the corresponding portion of the other in contact with the inside surface of the end 34 of the link 35.

The opposite end 40 of the link 35 is pivotally connected to a bracket 4| as by a rivet or bolt 42. The bracket 4| is secured to the under side 5 of the cabinet lid 2 by screws 43.

As shown in the drawing the length of the slot I5 between its ends I 6 and |1 is sufficient to permit the bolt 20 to slide therein during the swinging of the lid 2 from its fully closed to its fully open position and vioe versa.

When fully open the lid assumes an angledf approximately '10 with respect to the plane of thetop surface 6 of the cabinet body I. When the top 2 is in said fully open position the bolt 20 isin the upper end of the slot I5 in the plate I0 which functions as a stop to prevent greater opening of the lid 2 and the pressure of the friction discs 28 and 29 against the opposite faces of the plate i0 as applied by the springs 30 and 3| is sufficient to maintain the lid in such position indefinitely, against the gravitational pull produced by the overhanging weight of the lid and which tends to swing the lid to its closed position about the axis of the hinge pintle 4.

As will be apparent the vertical downward force exerted by the lid against the lid support will depend upon the lid position or the angle between the lid and a horizontal line perpendicular to the hinge axis. The downward force will vary as the cosine of the angle and thus will be a maximum for a very small angle of opening, will decrease gradually as the opening is increased to say about 30 degrees and from then on will fall off more and more rapidly being zero if the lid were opened to 90, i. e. were the lid permitted to open to a vertical position. On the other hand, the force required to move the support with respect to the slide should preferably be constant for different slide positions which obtains when the piece I0 is of uniform thickness and has a smooth surface. The lidlsupport will hold the lid open indefinitely inany position such that the angle of opening is greater than the critical angle at which the downward force exerted by the lid is just equal to the force required to move the pads 26, 21 with respect to the slide support I0. As previously indicated the force required to move the friction discs is determined by the force with which they are held against the plate i0 and thus the critical angle may be adjusted to any desired value.

It has further been found that the static friction between the leather and metal is greater than the dynamic or moving friction. Thus a larger force is required to start the friction pad moving than is necessary to keep it moving. In the present instance where the lid opening is limited to about '70 the force with which the friction discs are held against the plate I0 may be so adjusted that the critical angle will be around if the lid is moving. If the lid is manually closed to this position, it will continue to closely slowly and will come to rest quietly in its closed position. Due to the fact that the static friction is greater than the dynamic, the

lid will remain indefinitely in any position at rest such that the opening is greater than about 30". Thus the lid may be opened to any angle greater than about 30 and if stopped in this open position will remain open indefinitely. To close the lid it is only necessary to manually close it to angle of less than 50 or if the opening is less than this to start the lid moving and it will then close itself without bumping or jarring the cabinet.

Due to the fact that the device contains no loose joints, latches or other elements that could possibly strike one against another during raising and lowering of the lid the device is substantially noiseless in operation at all times, and the retarding action of the device slows down the motion of the lid so that it will not bang on the cabinet.

I claim:

Il. A supporting and lowering device for a cabinet lid and the like normally disposed on and pivoted to said cabinet in a substantially horizontal plane, said device comprising a substantially vertically extending slide element fixed to said cabinet with a longitudinal slot disposed at a predetermined distance from the lid pivot,

a. friction vdevice comprising a pair of friction membersy engagingopposite faces of and slidable vertically'on said slide element, a tie element for said friction elements extending through said slot, means for resiliently pressing said friction members into frictional contact with opposite faces respectively of said slide'element, and a link having one end pivoted to said friction de-I vice and its opposite end pivoted to said lid at a distance from said lid pivot substantially equal to the spacing of said slide element fromsaid pivot.`

2. A supporting and lowering device for a cabinet lid and the like normally disposed on and pivoted to said cabinet in a substantially horizontal plane, said device comprising a substantially vertically extending slide element fixed to said cabinetwith a longitudinal slot disposed at a predetermined distance from the lid pivot, a friction device comprising a pair of friction members engaging opposite faces of and slidable vertically on said slide element, a tie element for said friction elements extending through said slot, means carried by said tie element for resiliently pressing said friction members into friciional contact with opposite faces respectively of said slide element, and a link having one end pivoted to said friction device and its opposite end pivoted to said lid at a distance from said `lid pivot substantially equal to the spacing of said slide element from said pivot.

3,. A lid supporting and lowering device for phonograph cabinets and the like comprising a longitudinally slotted plate fixed to said cabinet, a pair of friction elements slidably mounted on and engaging opposite faces respectively of said plate, a tie bolt passing through saidslot, a,

spring carried by said bolt and resiliently pressing said friction elements into contact with said faces of said plate, and means connecting said bolt to said cabinet lid for controlling relative motion between the lid and the cabinet.

4. A lid supporting and lowering device fori phonograph cabinets and the like comprising a' longitudinally slotted plate fixed to said cabinet, a pair of friction elements slidably mounted on and engaging opposite faces respectively of said plate, a tie bolt passing through said slot and said friction elements, a spring carried by said bolt and resiliently pressing said friction elements into contact with said faces of said plate, and means Aconnecting said bolt to said cabinet lid for `con said bolt and resiliently pressing against 'said backing elements to press said friction elements respectively into contact with said faces of said plate, and means connecting said bolt to said cabinet lid for controlling relative motion between said lid and said cabinet.

6. A lid supporting and lowering device for phonograph cabinets and the like comprising a longitudinally slotted plate xed to said cabinet, a pair of friction elements slidably mounted on and engaging opposite faces respectively of said plate, a pair of backing elements for said friction elements respectively, a tie bolt passing through said slot and through saidnfriction and backing elements, a pair of concave-convex starshaped spring elements carried by said bolt` and resiliently pressing against said backing elements to press said friction elements respectively into Contact with `said faces of said plate, and means connecting said bolt to said cabinet lid for con trolling relative motion between said lid and said cabinet. i

7. A,lid supporting and lowering device for phonograph cabinets and the like comprising a longitudinally slotted plate fixed to said cabinet, a pair of friction elements slidably mounted on said plate and composed of leather with rough sides thereof engaging opposite faces respectively of said plate, a pair of backing elements for said friction elements respectively, a tie bolt passing through said slot and through said friction and backing elements, a pair of springs carried by said bolt and resiliently pressing against said backing elements to press said friction elements respectively into contact with said faces of said plate, and means connecting said bolt to said cabinet lid for controlling relative motion between saidlid and said cabinet.

8. In a cabinet comprising a vertically walled body portion and a lid pivoted to one of the walls of said body portion, a longitudinally slotted plate carried by and disposed vertically on a second wall of said cabinet, a pair of friction elements slidably mounted on and resiliently engaging opposite faces respectively of said plate,

`a tie bolt passing through said slot and said friction elements, a link connected at` one of its ends to said bolt, and means pivotally connecting the opposite end of said link to said cabinet lid.

9. In a cabinet comprising a vertically walled body portion and a lid pivoted to one of the walls of said body portion, a longitudinally slotted plate carried by and disposed vertically oril a second wall of said cabinet and set into said wall substantially flush with thesurface of said wall, said wall being recessed under said plate in a direction longitudinally of the slot in said plate, a pair of friction elements slidably mounted on and resiliently engaging opposite faces respectively of said plate with one of said friction elements disposed within said wall recess, a tie bolt passing through said slot and said friction elements, a link connected at one of its ends to said bolt, and means pivotallyfconnecting the opposite end of said link to said cabinet lid.

` 10. In a cabinet comprising a` vertically walled body portion and a lid pivoted to one of the walls of said body portion, a longitudinally slotted plate carried by and disposed vertically on a second wall' of said cabinet, a pair of friction elements slidably mounted on and resiliently engaging opposite faces respectively of said plate, a tie bolt passing through said slot and said friction elements and adapted to control the pressure of said friction elements on said plate, a link connected at one of its ends to and threaded for reception of a correspondingly threaded end of said bolt, locking means carried by said link and said bolt to maintain said 'fric tion pressure and toprevent loosening of the bolt in the link, and means pivotally connecting the opposite end of said link to said cabinet lid.

l1. In acabinet comprising a vertically walled body portion and a lid pivoted to one of the walls of said body portion, a longitudinally slotted plate carried by a second wall of said cabinet with the slot thereof disposed substantiallyy ver tical and set into said wall substantially flush with the surfaceof said wall. said` wally being recessed under said plate in a.v direction longitudinally of,` the slot in said plate, a pair offrictionv elements slidably mounted on and engaging opposite faces respectively of said plate with one of said friction elements disposed within said wall recessresilient means pressing saidffriction elements into contact with the opposite faces of saidy plate, a tie boli:I passing through said' slot and said friction elements and said. resilient means, a link connected at one of its ends to and threaded for reception of a correspondingly threaded end of said bolt, lockingA means carried by said link and said bolt to prevent loosening of the bolt in the linki and means pivotally connecting` the opposite end of said link to said cabinet lid, the threaded` end of said bolt projecting beyond said locking means and slotted to receive a tool for turning said bolt to set the pressure exerted by said resilient means against 10 said friction elements.

ELMER O. THOMPSON. 

